LASK Linz vs Sporting Lisbon Predictions

• Sporting have already qualified but a defeat would see them slip into second place.
• LASK can afford to draw on Thursday as they sit 3pts above third-placed PSV.
• Both teams have only lost one group game so far.
• A stalemate would guarantee both sides progress through to the knockout stage.

Both teams head into the match in good form

Both teams scored when these two sides last met back in October, where the hosts Sporting ran out narrow 2-1 winners. Both teams scored in three of LASK’s last six matches and Sporting have scored in all of their last six matches and LASK have only failed to score once during that same period, so you can see why we’re expecting goals to be scored at both ends of the pitch this Thursday.

Both teams have proven hard to beat of late, picking up five wins and suffering just one defeat from their last six outings, with LASK only losing twice at home in the league this season and Sporting only losing twice on the road in the Primeira Liga. LASK average 1.75 points per home game while Sporting average 1.57 points per away game, which suggests that Thursday’#s clash will most likely see the points shared.

LASK score an average of 1.88 goals per home game and concede an average of 1.25 goals and Sporting score an average of 1.29 goals per away game and concede an average of 1.14 goals, which is why we have gone with a final scoreline of 1-1. Only 38% of LASK’s home games have produced over 2.5 goals and the same can be said about 43% of Sporting’s away games, so we are not expecting a goal fest of any kind on Thursday.

A draw would be a desirable result for both managers

Both teams scored in 71% of Sporting’s away games and the hosts have only failed to score in 25% of their home games, while their guests have only failed to score in 14% of their away games, which provides another reason to expect a 1-1 draw when the two sides clash. 38% of LASK’s home games have produced exactly two goals as have 29% of Sporting’s away games, which is a joint majority for both clubs and that hands us even more evidence to back up our prediction for a 1-1 draw on Thursday.

We’re confident that both teams will score in Thursday’s clash and we have predicted a final scoreline of 1-1. Both teams still have something to play for on Thursday, with Sporting looking to secure top spot and LASK hoping to maintain their grip on the final qualifying spot, so we are expecting a tight and tense ninety minutes. Both teams have made themselves hard to beat of late and a draw would suit both managers at the end of the day.